Erasmus Punches Ticket To NCAA Championships In Shot Put At West Prelims

Thursday, May 29

College Station, Texas

TBA

USC

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds

Photo by: Travis Ellison

Erasmus Punches Ticket To NCAA Championships In Shot Put At West Prelims

May 29, 2025 | Track & Field

2-Day Results (PDF)

Trojans earn 13 spots in NCAA quarterfinal races Saturday

USC's Ashley Erasmus punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships in the shot put and the Trojans qualified for 13 positions in NCAA quarterfinal races during the second day of the 2025 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds being held at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas today (May 29).

To advance to the 2025 NCAA T&F Championships in Eugene, Ore. from June 11-14, an athlete needs to finish in the top 12 of an event at the regional. In running events today, an athlete needed to finish in the top three of her heat or have one of the next six best times to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals on Saturday and a chance to qualify for the NCAA T&F Championships.

Freshman Ashley Erasmus earned her way to the NCAA Championships in the shot put with her first attempt. Her first attempt, and only legal throw in the three rounds, went for 57-8.25 (17.58m) to earn her a fourth-place finish at the West Preliminary Rounds.
Sophomore Nonah Waldron placed third in her 100m hurdles heat with a time of 13.07 (+0.7) to automatically advance to the event quarterfinal on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. PT. Senior Jalaysiya Smith placed fifth in her qualifying heat with a time of 13.28 (+2.1w) which was the second-fastest time of the nonautomatic qualifiers, so she too advances. Waldron had the fourth-fastest and Smith the 19^th-fastest times on the day.
Five USC women advanced to the NCAA 100m quarterfinal on Saturday at 4:35 p.m. PT. Junior transfer Dajaz DeFrand had a season-best time of 11.00 (+1.4) to lead all qualifiers and move to fourth on USC's all-time list in the event. Junior Jassani Carter ran a PR of 11.04 (+1.3) to win her heat and post the second-fastest qualifying time. Carter moved from tied for seventh to tied for sixth on USC's all-time women's 100m list with four-time NCAA 100m champion Angela Williams. Freshman Brianna Selby had a time of 11.12 (+1.5), just of her PR, to take second in her heat and automatically qualify with the eighth-fastest time. Senior Samirah Moody was second in her heat with a time of 11.18 (+1.5) and freshman Tiana Eyakpobeyan was third in the same heat with a wind-legal season-best time of 11.30 (+1.5) to automatically advance. Moody had the 12^th and Eyakpobeyan the 21^st-fastest qualifying times. Freshman Olivia Pace had a PR of 11.34 (+1.4) to finish fourth in her heat and 25^th overall. She was qualified on time for the quarterfinal until the final wind-aided heat, when three nonautomatic qualifiers bumped her to the first position out of advancing.
Junior Yemi John had the fastest 400m qualifying time of 50.79 to advance first to the event quarterfinal on Saturday at 4:50 p.m. PT. John's time was a personal best and moved her from ninth to fifth on USC's all-time list. Joining her in the quarterfinal on Saturday is junior Christine M. Mallard who ran a season-best time of 52.04, 12^th among the qualifiers. It was Mallard's fastest 400m time since running a USC freshman record of 50.74 at the 2023 USATF U20 Championships.
The Trojan women closed their day by automatically qualifying four runners for the 200m quarterfinal on Saturday at 5:50 p.m. PT. DeFrand won her heat and was second overall among the qualifiers with a season-best time of 22.49 (+0.2). DeFrand's time moved her to eighth on USC's all-time women's 200m list. Sophomore Madison Whyte won her heat and was third overall among the qualifiers with a time of 22.65 (+0.2). Carter took second in her heat and was 10^th among the qualifiers for the quarterfinal with a time of 22.93 (+0.2). Moody took second in her prelims heat and was 13^th among the qualifiers with a time of 23.11 (-0.2).

Tomorrow the men's team will be in action at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds. The Trojans will have 17 individuals and two relay opportunities to qualify for the NCAA T&F Championships to be held in Eugene, Ore. from June 11-14.

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